[alfa] Rebuilt Alfetta Engine Officially Broken In

[alfacybersite <acs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Without repeating any of Dan K.'s comments (though not sure if he was
pulling your leg or not), will admit I also was a bit surprised to hear
you went up to, omigod, 6k on your still pretty fresh engine. This from
a guy who (as I recall) is changing the oil after every trip to the
market and was (I thought) going to rev it only slightly past idle.

I don't believe in the break it in fast and it will be a fast car /
engine theory. Yeah, maybe for awhile. Things (down there) in the engine
bay are getting to know one another again - sometimes for the first
time, but if you screwed up big time (other than that little starter
gear plate incident) it really doesn't matter if you revved to 6k or
not. You will be rebuilding.

Also if you held it to (in my opinion) 6k for extended periods - not
good. However, touching 6k occasionally after 500 or so miles...good.

My point is it is almost as bad to baby an engine as it is to push her
too soon too fast. By-the-by racer guys do (or should) add extra
bearing, etc. clearances and that is how they get by with balls out from
the get-go - not to mention extra HP from less friction.

That's why I always recommend driving in the slow lane at 50 or so for a
few miles, then taking it up to 60, then 70 briefly, then back down
again. Yes, there is no doubt more heat happening on the innards of the
fresh engine at the higher revs, but if not held there long, I feel it
merely helps seat everything in.

Obviously not everyone would agree.

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA
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